Yes, that has never been in question…I am certifiable. Photography is a difficult career. It’s physically and mentally challenging and the competition for good paying work is very high. But the same can be said for IT. Jobs are dwindling, pay is dwindling, and you have to constantly chase new skills to stay ahead. Every schmuck with a digital camera thinks he can call himself a “professional photographer”, but the same holds true for computer programmers. Can’t tell you how many hours of my life have been spent fixing some self-taught, so-called programmer’s catastrophes or arguing with an amateur dev over why they really do need to use a key field on their data table. Getting very tired of teaching Database 101 to my “professional” peers. I went to school so you don’t have to. Grr.
So why do I think that I’m the schmuck that can make it in photography? I don’t really but I’m not going to let that stop me anymore. I know what professional photography is and I know I am not yet worthy to call myself a pro. I’m not even a very good amateur yet. I look at other people’s photography every day and I’m sooooo not worthy to compare my work to a lot of what I see out in the world. Well, I can compare it, but the result is always, “Ooo, look at THAT! Man, I totally suck!” However, I have a crazy passion and just a little tiny itty bitty sparkle of talent. I keep reading over and over that it’s not so much your skill in photography that makes you…it’s your business and marketing skills. I hope that’s not totally true, but it gives me a little hope.
I did a scary thing this week…I did a Google map search for “photography” in the St. Louis area. The number of dots on that map was MIND BOGGLING! (see? Google Map of Photography in St.Louis) I was completely intimidated, but then I started clicking on those dots and taking a look at what was under them. I didn’t do a complete survey, but I explored a lot of dots for a couple of hours. About one third of those dots seem to be photo finishing/printing shops. We’re not going to consider Walgreens as the competition.
Of those dots that are photographers/studios, about a third of them have no business calling themselves professional photographers. I’m not even that bad now, and I suck! I can also make a website that doesn’t look like it came from the 1990s. So, I’m dismissing that lot too…not because I’m so confident in my present skills, but because I am not hanging my shingle out with the word “lame” on it. Lame is where I am right now, lame but improving dramatically. I have a bar to reach and I’m not going “pro” until I reach it. So, I’m crossing off that batch too.
Still, the map is scary even whittled down that far. So after you hack out the Walgreens and Pro Processors, and then the “so bad they should be ashamed” crowd, you have a big segment that are talented, self-taught amateurs trying to make a go of it or educated pros who don’t really have much in the way of artistic style to set them apart. When you whittle it all the way down to just people who have the skill to make your eyes pop out of your head…well, it’s a lot, but a far more manageable number. If I shoot for that level of skill, I should be able to swing some sort of meager living out of this adventure and maybe stop hating almost every minute of my day…and if I fail, I can crawl back to IT and bleak despair. :P
Another thing about the map…lots and lots of portrait and wedding photography. I totally understand why and trust me, I’ve seen some stunning art made in these specialties. But if I have to go to a lot of weddings, I will poke out my own eyes. It’s just me…I don’t like weddings and receptions are worse. I believe there may be a finite number of times I can hear The Electric Slide before my brain self combusts. Why risk it? Even the best weddings I’ve ever been to were endurance tests. Might not be as boring if I was shooting it, but I think my hang-ups would show in the work. I just wouldn’t be good at it.
So, what interests me? What area of photography do I see myself in? I like working in the studio. I like the engineering involved, the puzzle solving, the alchemy of controlling the light. So, I’m thinking commercial photography is where I’ll wind up.
So looking back at the photography map and only considering commercial photography…hell yeah, the size of that field looks manageable, of course I have no idea what the market is in St. Louis, but at least the map is less intimidating. Now the skill involved? Oh lord, I’m no where close.
So much to think about…so much to learn, but I’m ready. Let’s go!
Since I forgot to post a photo on my last brain dump, here’s one I took recently after being inspired by a pro photographer’s blog post about embracing auto modes (I have the bookmark here somewhere but I’ll be damned if I can find it right now…will keep looking).
So here’s the photo…shot in full automatic macro mode with a table lamp and a cheap, craft-store feather.
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